2 You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition.Kind of going off of yesterday...When these guys received the gospel, they received it fully. They had no reservations. So when they suffered, they understood that it was just what they had to go through as disciples of Christ instead of asking God "Why me?!"....God gave them the courage through the Holy Spirit to make it through and preach the Good News in spite of everything that was against them...it even says later that Satan prevented them from doing the things they wanted to do...which is very interesting. But they never lost their praise! Can we say the same thing?
3-4 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.
ReplyDeleteWe are to live our lives for an audience of one. Paul ultimately realizes that the oppinions of man are not what will matter on the last day. On that day only the one who is seated on the throne will matter. Let us live with that eternal perspective. I do not need to be concerned with the world or its perception of me, for God tests my heart and he is all that matters.
8 "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well because you had become so dear to us."
ReplyDeleteDo we delight in the ones we share the gospel with as Paul does in this chapter? Are we overwhelmed with joy as we talk about Jesus's love for us with our brothers? Paul sets an example by showing what sharing the gospel should really mean to us. The fact that he comes to the Thessalonians not only to spread the gospel, but to share his life as well out of love for those people is very powerful. Jesus did not just come to tell us what to do and not to do. He lived among his disciples and poured his life into them. The real challenge in this chapter is, "are you pouring your life into others and sharing your life as well as the gospel?" By doing so we exemplifying God's love for one another.
Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.
ReplyDelete(1 Thessalonians 2:6 ESV)
"...but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant." Paul has the mind of Christ which is ours in Christ Jesus to seek only the glory which comes from the Father. Seek the approval of God, not men. "Father, I am nothing without you, let me not think of myself more highly than I ought to. I realize that I am a child of you which means so much, but humble me when I am with others so I will make much of You, and not much of me."
11-12 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
ReplyDeleteThis is a prime example of how we should hold one another accountable, and disciple people who are just becoming believers. While they need to understand the magnitude of their sin before they are ready to receive grace and put on the Savior, after that we should encourage them. By taking a positive approach, we can strengthen their confidence in the Lord as their rock.
5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.
ReplyDeleteThis morning, i was reading this verse right before i was about to go take a test it was very striking. Here i was stressing out about this test, but in the end it did not completely matter how i did on it, This verse goes along with a theme of not trying to fit earthly expectations, but to fit the Godly expectations, this doesnt mean that i should fail my calc test, it just goes to show that at the end of the day nothing i do is as important as my relationship with Christ.
verse 18:
ReplyDelete"For we wanted to come to you--certainly I, Paul, did, again and again--but Satan stopped us."
This verse stuck out to me because it shows that there is spiritual warfare going on. Here Satan is preventing the gospel from spreading and Paul from supporting a church. Tactically Satan is cutting off a supply line to isolate a church and let its wounds fester. Satan tries to do that to us sometimes; however, Romans 8:39 says that he will fail. As Daniel 10:12-14 suggests, Satan can merely delay a response to a prayer but not stop it entirely. We can take comfort in that God will be there for us. Luke 12:6-7
1 Thessalonians 2:13
ReplyDeleteWhen you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
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Constantly be listening for the word of God. He frequently uses fellow believers to speak to us.
Thinking about it from the other perspective, carry yourself in a holy manner, for the Lord desires to use you. His word is at work in you. Do not profane his work by nailing Jesus back to the cross. Instead, live lives worthy of the blessing he has given you.
11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
ReplyDeleteThis is an example of what brotherhood should look like. Yes, brotherhood in this fraternity, but also to all your brothers in Christ. We should be encouraging to the other believers around us while holding them accountable and caring for them as if they're family. This is especially true when God has chosen to use you as a tool for someone else's salvation.
7: "But we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children."
ReplyDeleteHow do you approach others? Gently? Are you considerate towards others, meeting their needs and listen to them? Being gentle towards others will not only gain your respect from others but also increase how others see you as a Christian influence, providing more validity towards your preaching of the Gospel.
8 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.
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We touched on this concept during D-group this past week. The verse gives a model for discipleship that we should follow. Not only are we to share the gospel with people and then move on with our lives but we should also share our lives and invest in people that we share the gospel with. It is not enough to simply tell someone once and hope they get it, but we must demonstrate through our lives how to live the gospel. Conversely, it is not enough to simply live by the gospel alongside people and hope they get it, but we must actively share God's message. Both approaches must be used in discipleship for it to be effective and truly carry God's message.
6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.
ReplyDeleteOccasionally (sometimes frequently given the situation) I do things for the wrong reasons. Sometimes I serve others or go to church to seek the approval of others rather than to bring glory to God. This verse was very convicting to me because it really made me check my motives on why I really do certain things.
13. And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard for new believes to accept that Gods word is actually Gods word spoken through humans. We all strive to be able to tell the word of God and it not be ourselves speaking but the Holy spirit through us. for that to happen we must have full faith in the Holy Spirit and the Bible being God breathed. My prayer for our fraternity is that we dive into the word and see that the Lord uses it to teach, strengthen, break, and build us up.
All is Good in Christ